Dinosaur sightings: The Osborne 1 and the TRS-80 huggable luggables

Two dinosaurs on the prowl

While we have spent a good bit of time discussing the pros and cons of the Apple MacBook Air, there are other portable computers we could be talking about, namely, the Osborne 1 and the TRS-80 Model 4P.

When it comes to dinosaur computers in the luggable category the first name that should always be mentioned is the Osborne 1. We can talk about innovation with the Air, but we should first consider a PC that was truly revolutionary back in 1981. The Osborne 1 was the first completely self-contained portable computer.

Coming along a few years later was the Radio Shack TRS80 Model 4P, which refined the concepts laid out by the Osborne 1 and made lugging a computer from here to there a common every day reality for many.

Weight is relative

The Osborne 1 is generally recognized as the world's first self-contained portable computer. But it is only portable in the sense that it can be moved -- the concepts of laptops and notebooks was still years away in 1981. You can get the full back story for the Osborne 1 at oldcomputers.net.

Not everything lasts

The handle on the Osborne was made out of leather or leather-like material and has long since disintegrated. The case is pure plastic and apparently nearly indestructible.

Top to bottom

The top of the Osborne 1 doubles as the bottom depending on whether you are carrying it or about to open it up.

Keyboard

The Osborne 1 keyboard is just you basic keyboard of the day. However, notice the number pad to the right -- one of the primary markets for PCs in these early years were accountants and other financial personnel. For those folks, a number pad was extremely important.

Familiar ports

The Osborne 1 was equipped with the standard serial ports of the day.

A battery -- that&apos;s innovation

Before the Osborne 1, the idea of non-military personnel being able to use a computer while not connected to an electrical outlet was not practical. The Osborne 1 included a batter pack that could power the PC out in the field. I can imagine this was a major innovative breakthrough and was definitely a foreshadowing of the future of portable/mobile computing.

Big floppy

The Osborne 1 contained two full-size 5 1/4 floppy disk drives. Just think one floppy for applications and a second floppy for data -- now that's portability.

No movies here

The video screen is only 5 inches diagonal. Just enough room to see 52 characters on each line.

It&apos;s alive

Our Osborne 1 is alive and operating flawlessly. Now that is some engineering for you.

Dir = directory

Here is a list of the files found on our floppy disk.

Wordstar

For some of you the word processor Wordstar will bring back many memories. Whether they are good or bad memories I will not venture to guess.

TRS-80 Model 4P

While we have made a Dinosaur Sighting for the Radio Shack TRS-80 Color Computer 2 and subsequently published a Cracking Open gallery, this is our first look at the TRS80 Model 4P -- the P stands for portable of course.

In many ways, the Model 4P is a revision and update of the Osborne 1. When this luggable computer hit the market in 1983, the Osborne computer company was trying to cope with stiff competition that ultimately resulted in bankruptcy. Radio Shack, Compaq, and a few other companies were making bids to corner the fledgling portable PC market and the Osborne had trouble keeping up.

Look and feel

The TRS80 Model 4P looks very similar to the Osborne 1.

Up is down

And like the Osborne 1, the Model 4P has a lid protecting the keyboard, screen, and floppy disk drives that doubles as a bottom when the portable computer is being lugged around.

Latches

Release the latches to reveal the PC beneath.

Ready for action

The keyboard slides neatly into a slot below the rest of the PC when being ported. Once it is out, you are ready to begin computing.

By the numbers

Our TRS80 Model 4P has an official serial and model number.

About Mark Kaelin

Mark W. Kaelin has been writing and editing stories about the IT industry, gadgets, finance, accounting, and tech-life for more than 25 years. Most recently, he has been a regular contributor to BreakingModern.com, aNewDomain.net, and TechRepublic.

Full Bio

Mark W. Kaelin has been writing and editing stories about the IT industry, gadgets, finance, accounting, and tech-life for more than 25 years. Most recently, he has been a regular contributor to BreakingModern.com, aNewDomain.net, and TechRepublic.